Highlight.js vs Prism

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

highlight.js

Extremely Popular

Version 11.11.1

67
Good

Syntax highlighting with language autodetection.

Weekly Downloads
17.3M
Bundle (gzip)
1.6 MB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
40
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

prism

Niche

Version 4.1.2

51
Fair

React / Redux action composition made simple

Weekly Downloads
6.3K
↑71%
Bundle (gzip)
0 B
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
20
Popularity
50
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

Choosing between Highlight.js and Prism? Here's a data-driven comparison based on real npm data — downloads, bundle size, health scores, and more — to help you decide which package fits your project best.

Downloads & Popularity

Highlight.js leads with 17.3M weekly downloads — roughly 2755.2x more. Prism has 6.3K weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Prism has the smallest gzipped bundle at 0 B. Highlight.js comes in at 1.6 MB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Highlight.js has an overall health score of 67/100 (good), with strong security, popularity scores. Prism has an overall health score of 51/100 (moderate), with strong security scores. Health scores are calculated from maintenance activity, code quality, security posture, popularity, and stability metrics.

When to Choose Each

Choose Highlight.js if you value massive community and ecosystem, strong security track record. Choose Prism if you value strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Highlight.js and Prism are solid choices for JavaScript development. Highlight.js has the edge in overall health score (67/100), while each package brings unique strengths to the table. Evaluate them based on your project's priorities — whether that's community size, bundle efficiency, or maintenance activity — and choose the one that aligns best with your requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is highlight.js better than prism?
It depends on your needs. Highlight.js has a health score of 67/100 while Prism scores 51/100. Highlight.js has more weekly downloads (17.3M), suggesting broader adoption. Consider your specific requirements — bundle size, community support, and feature set — to decide which is the better fit.
Which has a smaller bundle size, highlight.js or prism?
Prism has the smaller gzipped bundle at 0 B. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use highlight.js vs prism?
Based on npm download statistics, Highlight.js has approximately 17.3M weekly downloads and Prism has approximately 6.3K weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
Which is better maintained, highlight.js or prism?
Highlight.js currently has the higher overall health score at 67/100. Highlight.js has a maintenance score of 40/100 and Prism scores 20/100 on maintenance.